StringComparer Class

Definition

Namespace:

System

Assembly:

System.Runtime.dll

Source:

StringComparer.cs

Represents a string comparison operation that uses specific case and culture-based or ordinal comparison rules.

public ref class StringComparer abstract : System::Collections::Generic::IComparer<System::String ^>, System::Collections::Generic::IEqualityComparer<System::String ^>, System::Collections::IComparer, System::Collections::IEqualityComparer

public abstract class StringComparer : System.Collections.Generic.IComparer<string>, System.Collections.Generic.IEqualityComparer<string>, System.Collections.IComparer, System.Collections.IEqualityComparer

type StringComparer = class
    interface IComparer<string>
    interface IEqualityComparer<string>
    interface IComparer
    interface IEqualityComparer

Public MustInherit Class StringComparer
Implements IComparer, IComparer(Of String), IEqualityComparer, IEqualityComparer(Of String)

Inheritance

Object

StringComparer

Implements

IComparer<String> IEqualityComparer<String> IComparer IEqualityComparer

Examples

The following example demonstrates the properties and the Create method of the StringComparer class. The example illustrates how different StringComparer objects sort three versions of the Latin letter I.

// This example demonstrates members of the
// System::StringComparer class.

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Collections;
using namespace System::Collections::Generic;
using namespace System::Globalization;
using namespace System::Threading;

void Display(List<String^>^ stringList, String^ title)
{
    Char firstChar;
    int codePoint;
    Console::WriteLine(title);
    for each (String^ s in stringList)
    {
        firstChar = s[0];
        codePoint = Convert::ToInt32(firstChar);
        Console::WriteLine("0x{0:x}", codePoint);
    }
    Console::WriteLine();
}

int main()
{
    // Create a list of string.
    List<String^>^ stringList = gcnew List<String^>();

    // Get the tr-TR (Turkish-Turkey) culture.
    CultureInfo^ turkishCulture = gcnew CultureInfo("tr-TR");

    // Get the culture that is associated with the current thread.
    CultureInfo^ currentCulture = Thread::CurrentThread->CurrentCulture;

    // Get the standard StringComparers.
    StringComparer^ invariant = StringComparer::InvariantCulture;
    StringComparer^ invariantIgnoreCase =
        StringComparer::InvariantCultureIgnoreCase;
    StringComparer^ current = StringComparer::CurrentCulture;
    StringComparer^ currentIgnoreCase =
        StringComparer::CurrentCultureIgnoreCase;
    StringComparer^ ordinal = StringComparer::Ordinal;
    StringComparer^ ordinalIgnoreCase = StringComparer::OrdinalIgnoreCase;

    // Create a StringComparer that uses the Turkish culture and ignores
    // case.
    StringComparer^ turkishIgnoreCase =
        StringComparer::Create(turkishCulture, true);

    // Define three strings consisting of different versions of the
    // letter I. LATIN CAPITAL LETTER I (U+0049)
    String^ capitalLetterI = "I";

    // LATIN SMALL LETTER I (U+0069)
    String^ smallLetterI = "i";

    // LATIN SMALL LETTER DOTLESS I (U+0131)
    String^ smallLetterDotlessI = L"\u0131";

    // Add the three strings to the list.
    stringList->Add(capitalLetterI);
    stringList->Add(smallLetterI);
    stringList->Add(smallLetterDotlessI);

    // Display the original list order.
    Display(stringList, "The original order of the list entries...");

    // Sort the list using the invariant culture.
    stringList->Sort(invariant);
    Display(stringList, "Invariant culture...");
    stringList->Sort(invariantIgnoreCase);
    Display(stringList, "Invariant culture, ignore case...");

    // Sort the list using the current culture.
    Console::WriteLine("The current culture is \"{0}\".",
        currentCulture->Name);
    stringList->Sort(current);
    Display(stringList, "Current culture...");
    stringList->Sort(currentIgnoreCase);
    Display(stringList, "Current culture, ignore case...");

    // Sort the list using the ordinal value of the character code points.
    stringList->Sort(ordinal);
    Display(stringList, "Ordinal...");
    stringList->Sort(ordinalIgnoreCase);
    Display(stringList, "Ordinal, ignore case...");

    // Sort the list using the Turkish culture, which treats LATIN SMALL
    // LETTER DOTLESS I differently than LATIN SMALL LETTER I.
    stringList->Sort(turkishIgnoreCase);
    Display(stringList, "Turkish culture, ignore case...");
}
/*
This code example produces the following results:

The original order of the list entries...
0x49
0x69
0x131

Invariant culture...
0x69
0x49
0x131

Invariant culture, ignore case...
0x49
0x69
0x131

The current culture is "en-US".
Current culture...
0x69
0x49
0x131

Current culture, ignore case...
0x49
0x69
0x131

Ordinal...
0x49
0x69
0x131

Ordinal, ignore case...
0x69
0x49
0x131

Turkish culture, ignore case...
0x131
0x49
0x69

*/

// This example demonstrates members of the 
// System.StringComparer class.

using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Globalization;
using System.Threading;

class Sample 
{
    public static void Main() 
    {
        // Create a list of string.
        List<string> list = new List<string>();

        // Get the tr-TR (Turkish-Turkey) culture.
        CultureInfo turkish = new CultureInfo("tr-TR");

        // Get the culture that is associated with the current thread.
        CultureInfo thisCulture = Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture;

        // Get the standard StringComparers.
        StringComparer invCmp =   StringComparer.InvariantCulture;
        StringComparer invICCmp = StringComparer.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase;
        StringComparer currCmp = StringComparer.CurrentCulture;
        StringComparer currICCmp = StringComparer.CurrentCultureIgnoreCase;
        StringComparer ordCmp = StringComparer.Ordinal;
        StringComparer ordICCmp = StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase;

        // Create a StringComparer that uses the Turkish culture and ignores case.
        StringComparer turkICComp = StringComparer.Create(turkish, true);

        // Define three strings consisting of different versions of the letter I.
        // LATIN CAPITAL LETTER I (U+0049)
        string capitalLetterI = "I";  

        // LATIN SMALL LETTER I (U+0069)
        string smallLetterI   = "i";

        // LATIN SMALL LETTER DOTLESS I (U+0131)
        string smallLetterDotlessI = "\u0131";

        // Add the three strings to the list.
        list.Add(capitalLetterI);
        list.Add(smallLetterI);
        list.Add(smallLetterDotlessI);

        // Display the original list order.
        Display(list, "The original order of the list entries...");

        // Sort the list using the invariant culture.
        list.Sort(invCmp);
        Display(list, "Invariant culture...");
        list.Sort(invICCmp);
        Display(list, "Invariant culture, ignore case...");

        // Sort the list using the current culture.
        Console.WriteLine("The current culture is \"{0}\".", thisCulture.Name);
        list.Sort(currCmp);
        Display(list, "Current culture...");
        list.Sort(currICCmp);
        Display(list, "Current culture, ignore case...");

        // Sort the list using the ordinal value of the character code points.
        list.Sort(ordCmp);
        Display(list, "Ordinal...");
        list.Sort(ordICCmp);
        Display(list, "Ordinal, ignore case...");

        // Sort the list using the Turkish culture, which treats LATIN SMALL LETTER 
        // DOTLESS I differently than LATIN SMALL LETTER I.
        list.Sort(turkICComp);
        Display(list, "Turkish culture, ignore case...");
    }

    public static void Display(List<string> lst, string title)
    {
        Char c;
        int  codePoint;
        Console.WriteLine(title);
        foreach (string s in lst)
        {
            c = s[0];
            codePoint = Convert.ToInt32(c);
            Console.WriteLine("0x{0:x}", codePoint); 
        }
        Console.WriteLine();
    }
}
/*
This code example produces the following results:

The original order of the list entries...
0x49
0x69
0x131

Invariant culture...
0x69
0x49
0x131

Invariant culture, ignore case...
0x49
0x69
0x131

The current culture is "en-US".
Current culture...
0x69
0x49
0x131

Current culture, ignore case...
0x49
0x69
0x131

Ordinal...
0x49
0x69
0x131

Ordinal, ignore case...
0x69
0x49
0x131

Turkish culture, ignore case...
0x131
0x49
0x69

*/

// This example demonstrates members of the 
// System.StringComparer class.

open System
open System.Globalization
open System.Threading

let display (lst: ResizeArray<string>) title =
    printfn $"%s{title}"
    for s in lst do
        let c = s[0]
        let codePoint = Convert.ToInt32 c
        printfn $"0x{codePoint:x}"
    printfn ""

// Create a list of string.
let list = ResizeArray()

// Get the tr-TR (Turkish-Turkey) culture.
let turkish = CultureInfo "tr-TR"

// Get the culture that is associated with the current thread.
let thisCulture = Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture

// Get the standard StringComparers.
let invCmp =   StringComparer.InvariantCulture
let invICCmp = StringComparer.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase
let currCmp = StringComparer.CurrentCulture
let currICCmp = StringComparer.CurrentCultureIgnoreCase
let ordCmp = StringComparer.Ordinal
let ordICCmp = StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase

// Create a StringComparer that uses the Turkish culture and ignores case.
let turkICComp = StringComparer.Create(turkish, true)

// Define three strings consisting of different versions of the letter I.
// LATIN CAPITAL LETTER I (U+0049)
let capitalLetterI = "I"  

// LATIN SMALL LETTER I (U+0069)
let smallLetterI   = "i"

// LATIN SMALL LETTER DOTLESS I (U+0131)
let smallLetterDotlessI = "\u0131"

// Add the three strings to the list.
list.Add capitalLetterI
list.Add smallLetterI
list.Add smallLetterDotlessI

// Display the original list order.
display list "The original order of the list entries..."

// Sort the list using the invariant culture.
list.Sort invCmp
display list "Invariant culture..."
list.Sort invICCmp
display list "Invariant culture, ignore case..."

// Sort the list using the current culture.
printfn $"The current culture is \"{thisCulture.Name}\"."
list.Sort currCmp
display list "Current culture..."
list.Sort currICCmp
display list "Current culture, ignore case..."

// Sort the list using the ordinal value of the character code points.
list.Sort ordCmp
display list "Ordinal..."
list.Sort ordICCmp
display list "Ordinal, ignore case..."

// Sort the list using the Turkish culture, which treats LATIN SMALL LETTER 
// DOTLESS I differently than LATIN SMALL LETTER I.
list.Sort turkICComp
display list "Turkish culture, ignore case..."


(*
This code example produces the following results:

The original order of the list entries...
0x49
0x69
0x131

Invariant culture...
0x69
0x49
0x131

Invariant culture, ignore case...
0x49
0x69
0x131

The current culture is "en-US".
Current culture...
0x69
0x49
0x131

Current culture, ignore case...
0x49
0x69
0x131

Ordinal...
0x49
0x69
0x131

Ordinal, ignore case...
0x69
0x49
0x131

Turkish culture, ignore case...
0x131
0x49
0x69

*)

' This code example demonstrates members of the System.StringComparer class.

Imports System.Collections
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Globalization
Imports System.Threading

Class Sample
    
    Public Shared Sub Main() 
        ' Create a list of string.
        Dim list As New List(Of String) 
        
        ' Get the tr-TR (Turkish-Turkey) culture.
        Dim turkish As New CultureInfo("tr-TR")
        
        ' Get the culture that is associated with the current thread.
        Dim thisCulture As CultureInfo = Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture
        
        ' Get the standard StringComparers.
        Dim invCmp As StringComparer = StringComparer.InvariantCulture
        Dim invICCmp As StringComparer = StringComparer.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase
        Dim currCmp As StringComparer = StringComparer.CurrentCulture
        Dim currICCmp As StringComparer = StringComparer.CurrentCultureIgnoreCase
        Dim ordCmp As StringComparer = StringComparer.Ordinal
        Dim ordICCmp As StringComparer = StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase
        
        ' Create a StringComparer that uses the Turkish culture and ignores case.
        Dim turkICComp As StringComparer = StringComparer.Create(turkish, True)
        
        ' Define three strings consisting of different versions of the letter I.
        ' LATIN CAPITAL LETTER I (U+0049)
        Dim capitalLetterI As String = "I"
        
        ' LATIN SMALL LETTER I (U+0069)
        Dim smallLetterI As String = "i"
        
        ' LATIN SMALL LETTER DOTLESS I (U+0131)
        Dim smallLetterDotlessI As String = "ı"
        
        ' Add the three strings to the list.
        list.Add(capitalLetterI)
        list.Add(smallLetterI)
        list.Add(smallLetterDotlessI)
        
        ' Display the original list order.
        Display(list, "The original order of the list entries...")
        
        ' Sort the list using the invariant culture.
        list.Sort(invCmp)
        Display(list, "Invariant culture...")
        list.Sort(invICCmp)
        Display(list, "Invariant culture, ignore case...")
        
        ' Sort the list using the current culture.
        Console.WriteLine("The current culture is ""{0}"".", thisCulture.Name)
        list.Sort(currCmp)
        Display(list, "Current culture...")
        list.Sort(currICCmp)
        Display(list, "Current culture, ignore case...")
        
        ' Sort the list using the ordinal value of the character code points.
        list.Sort(ordCmp)
        Display(list, "Ordinal...")
        list.Sort(ordICCmp)
        Display(list, "Ordinal, ignore case...")
        
        ' Sort the list using the Turkish culture, which treats LATIN SMALL LETTER 
        ' DOTLESS I differently than LATIN SMALL LETTER I.
        list.Sort(turkICComp)
        Display(list, "Turkish culture, ignore case...")
    
    End Sub
    
    Public Shared Sub Display(ByVal lst As List(Of String), ByVal title As String)
        Dim c As Char
        Dim s As String
        Dim codePoint As Integer

        Console.WriteLine(title)
        For Each s In lst
            c = s(0)
            codePoint = Convert.ToInt32(c)
            Console.WriteLine("0x{0:x}", codePoint)
        Next s
        Console.WriteLine()
    End Sub
End Class

'This code example produces the following results:
'
'The original order of the list entries...
'0x49
'0x69
'0x131
'
'Invariant culture...
'0x69
'0x49
'0x131
'
'Invariant culture, ignore case...
'0x49
'0x69
'0x131
'
'The current culture is "en-US".
'Current culture...
'0x69
'0x49
'0x131
'
'Current culture, ignore case...
'0x49
'0x69
'0x131
'
'Ordinal...
'0x49
'0x69
'0x131
'
'Ordinal, ignore case...
'0x69
'0x49
'0x131
'
'Turkish culture, ignore case...
'0x131
'0x49
'0x69
'

Remarks

For more information about this API, see Supplemental API remarks for StringComparer.

Constructors

StringComparer()

Initializes a new instance of the StringComparer class.

Properties

CurrentCulture	Gets a StringComparer object that performs a case-sensitive string comparison using the word comparison rules of the current culture.
CurrentCultureIgnoreCase	Gets a StringComparer object that performs case-insensitive string comparisons using the word comparison rules of the current culture.
InvariantCulture	Gets a StringComparer object that performs a case-sensitive string comparison using the word comparison rules of the invariant culture.
InvariantCultureIgnoreCase	Gets a StringComparer object that performs a case-insensitive string comparison using the word comparison rules of the invariant culture.
Ordinal	Gets a StringComparer object that performs a case-sensitive ordinal string comparison.
OrdinalIgnoreCase	Gets a StringComparer object that performs a case-insensitive ordinal string comparison.

Methods

Compare(Object, Object)	When overridden in a derived class, compares two objects and returns an indication of their relative sort order.
Compare(String, String)	When overridden in a derived class, compares two strings and returns an indication of their relative sort order.
Create(CultureInfo, Boolean)	Creates a StringComparer object that compares strings according to the rules of a specified culture.
Create(CultureInfo, CompareOptions)	Creates a StringComparer object that compares strings according to the rules of a specified culture and string options.
Equals(Object, Object)	When overridden in a derived class, indicates whether two objects are equal.
Equals(Object)	Determines whether the specified object is equal to the current object. (Inherited from Object)
Equals(String, String)	When overridden in a derived class, indicates whether two strings are equal.
FromComparison(StringComparison)	Converts the specified StringComparison instance to a StringComparer instance.
GetHashCode()	Serves as the default hash function. (Inherited from Object)
GetHashCode(Object)	When overridden in a derived class, gets the hash code for the specified object.
GetHashCode(String)	When overridden in a derived class, gets the hash code for the specified string.
GetType()	Gets the Type of the current instance. (Inherited from Object)
IsWellKnownCultureAwareComparer(IEqualityComparer<String>, CompareInfo, CompareOptions)	Determines whether the specified IEqualityComparer<T> is a well-known culture-aware string comparer.
IsWellKnownOrdinalComparer(IEqualityComparer<String>, Boolean)	Determines whether the specified IEqualityComparer<T> is a well-known ordinal string comparer.
MemberwiseClone()	Creates a shallow copy of the current Object. (Inherited from Object)
ToString()	Returns a string that represents the current object. (Inherited from Object)

See also

• String
• CompareOptions